Which place is cheaper, Railay Beach or Krabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Krabi and Railay Beach can help you decide which place is right for you.
Krabi is a local, vibrant, and colorful town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.
Railay Beach is a dramatic, spectacular, and fun-filled beach area. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Other reasons to visit include food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.
Tourists will generally find more to do in Railay Beach. Although Krabi and Railay Beach are both popular with visitors, Railay Beach has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Railay Beach is more popular for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and impressive beauty, while Krabi is known for its museums, shopping, and small town charm. Railay Beach is more touristy than Krabi and is popular for its beautiful limestone cliffs and its world famous rock climbing. It is also home to Phra Nang Cave. Krabi is popular for its easy access to inland adventures and nearby island hopping as well as its lively night market.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Railay Beach and Krabi. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Krabi is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Railay Beach is not a good beach area for its museums and history.
Many visitors head to Krabi specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. In the area you'll find mountain top temples such as Wat Tham Suea and natural spots such as Khao Khanap Nam Cave. In town there's the stunning Wat Kaew Korawaram temple as well.
If you're looking to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Railay Beach. This is an adventure sport destination that is popular for rock climbing and its scenic beauty. Therefore, there are no real museums or temples in the area.
Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Krabi and Railay Beach can be difficult as they are each good in their own way.
There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Krabi. It's not particularly known for its culinary scene, but Krabi Town does have great street food and a lively night market. For some of the best restaurants, head to Chao Fah Road.
Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Railay Beach. You'll find a number of tourist oriented restaurants. Many are affiliated with hotels and resorts and serve the standard Thai options along with pizza and burgers.
The good nightlife scene is relatively similar in Krabi and Railay Beach.
With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Krabi. There's a decent live music scene, but in general the town is quiet at night. There's also a good night market.
Railay Beach has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. It's a secluded area with a decent number of laid back bars that are usually associated with hotels or resorts. There's also a young crowd, including backpackers, who come for the beautiful setting and great rock climbing. This population insures that there's always something going on at night.
Railay Beach is a very popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Krabi is lacking in good options for its resorts.
Vacationers can choose from a number of terrific resorts in Railay Beach. You'll find a mix of beachside resorts and budget hotels, as well as a number of hostels in the area.
Not known for its high-end resorts, Krabi offers a few options. There's no real beach in town, so the better resorts are found at nearby beach towns.
Railay Beach is a very popular place for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Krabi is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
There is a nice variety of marine life that makes scuba diving and snorkeling great in Railay Beach. There are dive centers that offer both snorkeling and dive trips to nearby areas.
Krabi is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
Railay Beach is a very popular place for its beaches. However, Krabi is lacking in good options for the beache.
Railay Beach is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. The beaches are famous for their dramatic limestone cliffs. There are three areas: Railay Beach West is scenic with its surrounding cliffs and popular resorts. This is the place to swim or watch the sunset. Railay Beach East is most popular for its rock climbing. You should also check out Phra Nang Cave Beach, which is the location of Phra Nang Cave.
You can check out the beach in Krabi. The town itself has no beach, so you'll need to take a day trip to nearby Railay Beach or Ao Nang.
Krabi is a well-known place for shopping. However, Railay Beach is not a good beach area for its shopping opportunities.
Krabi is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The town's night market is fun to explore. There's also the popular Krabi Town Walking Street (where you'll find the night market) as well as some larger stores and small malls near town.
If you're looking to go shopping, Railay Beach has some nice offerings. The Walking Street has shops that sell bathing suits or anything you may have forgotten.
Krabi is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Railay Beach is not as famous, but is still a good beach area to visit for its kid-friendly activities.
Krabi is a very family-friendly place to visit. The town makes a great base for island hopping and exploring the province of Krabi. Nearby you'll find Krabi Fun Park, which includes a ropes course. There are also caves nearby to explore and plenty of stunning natural beauty.
Railay Beach is a family-friendly town. This is a favorite beach area for many visitors to Thailand. It's only accessible by water and it offers adventure sports and calm waters that are nice for kids.
Both Krabi and Railay Beach are very good destinations to visit as a couple.
Krabi makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There's easy access to many beautiful areas with caves, viewpoints, and beaches. Krabi Walking Street also has great restaurants and a lively night market.
Couples visit Railay Beach frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Rock climbing is a favorite activity here, and couples who have an adventurous spirit will enjoy this dramatic location.
Railay Beach is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Krabi is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.
Railay Beach is very popular with the backpacker crowd. There's no shortage of affordable accommodation that attracts budget travelers and backpackers. The area's world class rock climbing also appeals to the young and adventurous crowd.
It's common for backpackers to visit Krabi. The town has a more local vibe, as many backpackers head on to Ao Nang or Railay Beach. You'll find affordable accommodation here though, as well as easy access to some great excursions.
Visitors will find decent public transit in both Krabi and Railay Beach.
Public transit is mostly limited in Krabi. There's no real public transit so you'll need to get around by rental car, motorbike, or songthaew truck (pickup trucks with seats in back).
Public transit is generally limited in Railay Beach. The area is only accessible by boat and there is no road transportation.
Railay Beach is an amazing beach area to visit for its walkability. Also, Krabi is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.
It's very easy to get around on foot in Railay Beach. The area has no cars or road transportation so everything, including the beaches are easy to walk to.
Krabi is a somewhat walkable place. There's a walking street and a few parts of town that are relatively walkable.
For even more information, also check out Is Krabi Worth Visiting? and Is Railay Beach Worth Visiting?.
It's fun to spend time in either Krabi or Railay Beach. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Railay Beach due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Krabi, and 2-4 days is enough time in Railay Beach.
Families should spend more time in Krabi than Railay Beach. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Krabi, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Railay Beach than Krabi. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Railay Beach that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Railay Beach than Krabi if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Railay Beach.
In Krabi, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this vibrant town offers. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.
In Railay Beach, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this fun-filled destination offers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. This beach area offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.
Krabi is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Railay Beach. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.
You'll find museums and nightlife around the local destination of Krabi. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.
Railay Beach is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and nightlife when visiting the destination of Railay Beach. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.
Krabi is a popular place to visit. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
You'll find nightlife and food around the adventurous destination of Railay Beach. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Thailand.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Krabi is $56, while the average daily cost in Railay Beach is $107. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Krabi and Railay Beach in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Krabi or Railay Beach? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Railay Beach and Krabi change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Some typical examples of dining costs in Railay Beach are as follows:
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Railay Beach are as follows:
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Krabi are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Krabi:
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Railay Beach are as follows:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krabi and Railay Beach, we can see that Railay Beach is more expensive. And not only is Krabi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Krabi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Krabi and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Railay Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Railay Beach than you might in Krabi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Krabi Expensive? and Is Railay Beach Expensive?.
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
The summer brings many poeple to Krabi as well as Railay Beach. Krabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Railay Beach throughout the year.
August to October in Krabi is the rainy season. August to October in Railay Beach is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Railay Beach. Krabi receives a lot of rain in the summer. Krabi usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Railay Beach. Krabi gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Railay Beach. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Krabi this time of the year. In the summer, Krabi often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Railay Beach. Krabi gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 206 hours of full sun.
Krabi is around the same temperature as Railay Beach in the summer. The daily temperature in Krabi averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Railay Beach fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Both Railay Beach and Krabi are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Krabi throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Railay Beach because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Krabi is December to March. The rainy season in Krabi is August to October. The dry season in Railay Beach is December to March. The rainy season in Railay Beach is August to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Railay Beach. It's quite rainy in Krabi. In October, Krabi usually receives around the same amount of rain as Railay Beach. Krabi gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Krabi usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Railay Beach during autumn. Krabi gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Railay Beach receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Krabi is around the same temperature as Railay Beach. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Krabi in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Railay Beach averages at about 27°C (81°F).
Both Railay Beach and Krabi during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Krabi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Railay Beach year-round.
December to March is the dry season in Krabi. December to March is the dry season in Railay Beach. Krabi usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Railay Beach. Krabi gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Railay Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Krabi. In the winter, Krabi often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Railay Beach. Krabi gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 287 hours of full sun.
In January, Krabi is generally around the same temperature as Railay Beach. Daily temperatures in Krabi average around 28°C (82°F), and Railay Beach fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Krabi and Railay Beach. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Krabi year-round. Railay Beach attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Railay Beach receives a lot of rain in the spring. Krabi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Krabi usually receives around the same amount of rain as Railay Beach. Krabi gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Railay Beach this time of the year. In Krabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Krabi usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Railay Beach during spring. Krabi gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Railay Beach receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.
Krabi is around the same temperature as Railay Beach in the spring. The daily temperature in Krabi averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Railay Beach fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
Krabi | Railay Beach | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) |
Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) |
Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |